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From Collective Arts Brewing in Hamilton Ontario comes their “IPA NO5″ a New England style Double IPA. The beer pours a mildly cloudy orange with a white head. The aroma consists of tropical fruit, pineapple, sweetness and floral hops. The flavour is of tropical fruits, pineapple, melon, juicy notes, sweetness, candi sugar, mild bitterness and some alcohol. The alcohol content comes in at 8.2%. This was a really good brew even if it is not the full murk of the style.

From Last Best Brewing & Distilling in Calgary Alberta comes their second ever bottled beer the “A.E. Cross Barley Wine Barrel Aged” the second of their Lineage Series. This is a 2016 Vintage and has been cellared by the brewery itself until 2018. The beer pours a deep orange brown colour with an off white head. For the second release they split the beer into two versions one unoaked and then this one that was barrel aged for 10 Months in Alberta Rye Whiskey Barrels. The aroma consists of mild oak, dark fruits, stone fruit, brown sugar, caramel, toffee and rye. The flavour is of oak, dark fruits, cherry, toffee, caramel, grapefruit rind, honey, resin, rye spice, rye whiskey, bitterness and alcohol. The alcohol content comes in at 11.8% with an IBU of 45. This is a borderline American Barelywine and really enjoyable. I hope they make more of this in the future.

Commercial Description: With our 2nd lineage release, we pay homage to a prairie legend with our riff on a classic style. The Alfred Ernest Goss Barley Wine uses locally sourced barley wheat, and rye as a fitting tribute to the founder of Calgary Brewing & Malting and the embodiment of the Last Best West. We split this release into two: one unoaked and one aged for 10 months in 100% Alberta rye whiskey barrels Layered with subtle, integrated oak and a developing rye spiciness, this beer is characterized by its sweet caramel and barley malt base alcohol warmth, hints of dark fruit and a touch of light malted wheat Serve it at cellar temperature and age for years to come.

From Fernie BC’s Fernie Brewing comes their “Three Kings Tripel” a new limited release. The beer pours an orange colour with a white head. The aroma consists of orange, candi sugar, Belgian yeast, grainy, bready malts and an overall sweetness. The flavour is of orange, citrus, Belgian yeast, candi sugar, sweetness, caramel, grain, mild bitterness and some low alcohol burn. The alcohol content comes in at 8% with and IBU of 29. Belgian style Tripel’s can border on to sweet but this one dances that line and makes for a tasty brew well worth picking up.

Commercial Description: Three Kings Belgian-Style Tripel is named after one of Fernie’s most extreme, stunt-filled downhill bike trails, making it the perfect name for this spicy, strong Trappist Ale. A beer fit for a King. A pale, somewhat spicy, dry, strong Trappist Ale with a pleasant rounded malt flavor and firm bitterness. Quite aromatic, with spicy, fruity, and light alcohol notes combining with the supportive clean malt character. High alcohol, yet very approachable to many a palate.

From Bench Creek Brewing out of very rural Alberta (Yellowhead Country) near Edson comes their “Legend Extra Old Ale”. The beer stated to Enjoy after Dec 24, 2017. The beer pours a reddish orange colour with an off white head. The aroma consists of The aroma consists of dark fruits, toffee, caramel, floral hops and sweetness. The flavour is of dark fruits, tropical fruits, vanilla, candy sugar, toffee, caramel, sweetness, bitterness with some minor alcohol notes. The alcohol content comes in at 11.8% with an IBU of 45. This is a tasty Old Ale and well made. If you can find a bottle of this in Alberta make sure to pick it up!

Commercial Description: It was believed a town like Legend, AB, would be around forever — until its sudden yet inevitable demise early last century. The last grain elevators came down decades later, nearly wiping out any and all remnants of the place. Visitors to the ghost town only rarely ask about the townspeople. Did they die with the town? The truth is lost to time but most choose to believe they packed up and left, attempting to preserve the best traits of the place, to savour the legacy, and moved on to bigger, and dare we say, better things.

From Nanaimo’s Longwood Brewery comes their “Barley Wine” a barrel aged beer from the 2017 Vintage. The beer pours a deep chestnut colour with a brown head. The aroma consists of roasted malts, dark fruits, brown sugar, vanilla and sweetness. The flavour is of dark fruits, roasted malts, treacle, syrupy, brown sugar, sweetness, earth and some bitterness with some alcohol in the finish. The alcohol content comes in at 11.5% with an IBU of 45. This was an interesting English Barley Wine and I look forward to trying it again sooner than later.

Commercial Description: Steeped in lore and tradition, this special annual brew can be enjoyed now or cellared to futher mature. Mahogany brown with a vast shattering attack of malt, hints of raisin, vanilla and a bitter sweet chocolate finish. This well aged ale (8 months in oak) is a great finish to any dining experience or simply by itself. Best enjoyed at cellar temperature.